Automatic traffic-regulator.



E. A. POUND.

AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY {1,1916- 1,4,9U Patented Sept 11, 1917.

Elma fimmd ELMER A. POUND, OF VENICE, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC-REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. ii, an.

Application filed July 11, 1916. Serial No. 108,582.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ELMER A. POUND, a citizen of the United States,residing at Venice, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in AutomaticTraffic- Regulators,- of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a traiiic regulator and particularly pertainsto automatic means for regulating the traflic at street crossings inlarge cities.

' It is an object of this invention to provide automatic means whichwill constantly o erate to alternately direct the movement '0pedestrians and vehicles in crossing street intersections.

Another object is to providesimple timing mechanism which will act in apositive manner to actuate the regulator at given intervals to changethe direction of trailic movement.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section as seen on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1and as illustrating the arrangement of the semaphore block mountingwithin the base.

Fig. 3 is a "iew in vertical sectlonas seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2'and particularly discloses the timing mechanism" and its motor drive.

Fig. 4 is a View in horizontal section as seen on the line 4-4 of Fig.3and illustrates the actuating mechanism by which the sema phore blockis rotated.

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal section as.

seen on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 and illustrates the electrical contactrings by which the semaphore block is illuminated.

Fig. 6 is a view in horizontal section as seen on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a view in vertical section as seen on the line 7-'7 of Fig. 3and. illustrates the cam facearrangement by which the semaphore block islifted out of contact with the electric illuminating circuit.

Fig. 8 is a view in plan illustrating the square plate used to rotatethe semaphore by means of the semaphore actuating levers.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, 10 indicates a base whichis preferably square inshape and which is adapted to rest upon thepavement at the center of street intersectiol-is. The base is hollow andcontains actuating mechanism by which a semaphore block 11 is rotatedand illuminated. The semaphore block is formed with a verticallyextending frame which is rectangular in shape and has mounted withineach of its sides. translucent plates upon which suitableindicia areinscribed. As shown in the drawings, diametrically opposite sides bearthe 'word Stop aIE ranged rcrtically, one letter below the other. Thetwo remaining plates have the word Open inscribed upon them. Theseinscriptions indicate when the traliic is to move and when to remainstill.

The semaphore block is actuated by means of a motor 12 which is fittedwith a worm gear 13 adapted to mesh with a worm wheel 14. The worm wheelhas a suitable spur gear mounted upon it which engages one of a train ofgears. In the drawings, the train consists of large diametered gears 15and 16 and small gears 17 and 18. These gears move in svm-ln'onism andproduce intermittent rotation of the semaphore block. This movement isproduced bymeans of an engaging pin 19 which is secured upon the face ofthe gear 16 and is thus brought into engagement with the end of a rockerarm 20 once in each revolution of the gear 16. The rocker arm is pivotedupon the bottom of thevbase 10 by means of a pivot pin 21 and extendsoutwardly across the bottom of the base. The outer end of said rockerarm is connected by a pitman rod 22 to a vertically disposed shiftingarm 23 which is suitably mounted for universal movement within a,

other coil spring 26 is secured to the shifting arm 23 and normallydraws it in the direction indicated by the arrow b-.

The shifting arm is adapted to engage one of a series of notches 2T30inclusive formed adjacent the corners of a square rotating plate 31secured to .a vertically disposed semaphore shaft 32 upon which 1smounted the semaphore block. The rocker arm 20 and the pitman rod 22 areso correlated that they swing the shifting lever the proper amount ofmovement to rotate the plate 31 one quarter of its revolution andthereby change the position of the semaphore block so that the indiciaexposedto the traffic upon the various street corners will be reversedat each quarter turn of the semaphore block.

In order to attract the attention of the traveling public to theregulator the sema phore block is intermittentlyilluminated by suitableincandescent lamps 33 which are arranged within the semaphore block andwhich are supplied with an electric current which is delivered toconductor rin s 34 and 35 by electrical conductors 36 and 31. Theserings are insulated from each other and lie concentric to each otherupon a plate 38 mounted upon the base and around the semaphore shaft 32.A series of four rollers 39-42 inclusive are secured upon the under faceof the semaphore block and are arranged in pairs diametrically oppositeeach other and upon circles whose diameters are similar to the diametersof the rings 3% and 35. These rollers are contact rollers and, whenbearing upon the rings 3i and 35, complete circuits to the lights withinthe semaphore block. The intermittent illumination of these lights iseffected by a face cam 43 which is formed within the bottom of a thrustbearing 44 adapted to receive the lower end of the semaphore shaft 32and carry the complete weight of the semaphore block. The face cam isformed with four swells which are arranged at right angles to each otherand which engage a similar face upon the end of the shaft 32.This'con1bination of cam faces acts to raise and lower the semaphoreblock at each quarter turn and thus relieves the rollers 3942 inclusivefrom contact with the conductor rings 34 and 35.

The entire device in operation is actuated by the electric motor 12which is supplied with a constant flow of current which permits it torun continuously. The train of gears connecting with the motor isdesigned to reduce the speed of rotation of the gear 16 to suitably timeit in its rotation of the semaphore block. Observation has proven thatthe movemeutof traflic in one direction requires approximately thirtyseconds and the device here shown is timed to approximately that speed.However, individual traffic conditions will govern this matter. \Vhenthe gear 16 isrotated, its pin 19 will engage the cngageable end of therocker arm 20 and swing it in the direction indicated by i the arrow-c-. This movement will draw the pitman rod and consequently the shiftmglever 23 so that the semaphore plate will be rotated a quarter of arevolution. Simultaneously, the semaphore will be verticallyreciprocated upon the cam 43 and will, during the transition from oneposition to the other, discontinue the illumination. Within thesemaphore block. However, the cam will permit the rollers to becomeseated upon the conductor rings at the time the semaphore block ceasestomove and will thus cause the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim: I

1. A tratlic regulator. comprising a vertically disposed semaphoreblock, indicia inscribed upon the sides of said semaphore block, meanswhereby said block may be intermittently and regularly rotated a givenportion of a revolution. means for illuminating the semaphore block, andmeans whereby the semaphore block may be reciprotated while rotating todiscontinue the illumination therein.

2. A traffic regulator comprising a supporting base, a rotatablevertical shaft mounted thereon, a semaphore block mounted fast to saidshaft. timing gears constantly driven within said base, meansoperativelv connected to said gears for rotating said shaft a quarterrevolution in the same direction at regular intervals, means forilluminating said block. and means whereby the illumination may bediscontinued durin the rotation of said shaft, said means inclu din acontact point fast to said base and a con tact point fast to said blockadapted to engage said first-named contact point when said block is atrest and to be disconnected When said block is rotated.

3. A traflic regulator comprising a supporting base, a rotatablevertical shaft supported thereby, a rectangular vertical sema- KIYpliore block fast to said shaft, trafiic regulating indicia carried bysaid block, means for imparting a quarter revolution to said shaft atregular intervals, said means including reducing gears operativelyconnected therewith, a toothed plate fast to said shaft, a pin on one ofsaid gears, a lever intermittently operated by said pin, and operativelyconnected to said plate, and resilient means restoring said lever to itsoriginal position 10 after its engagement With said pin.

In testimony whereof I' have signed my name to this specification.

ELMER A. POUND.

